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shame. He ought to go to prison.


MIRALDA

Yes, he ought. But you see it's so hard to find him. It isn't as if it was this side of Persia. It's being on the other side that is such a pity. If only it was in a country like, like...


JOHN

I'd soon find him. I'd... Why, a man like that deserves anything.


MIRALDA

It is good of you to say that.


JOHN

Why, I'd... And you say you never got a penny?


MIRALDA

No.


JOHN

Well, that is a shame. I call that a downright shame.


MIRALDA

Now, what ought I to do?


JOHN

Do? Well, now, you know in business there's nothing like being on the spot. When you're on the spot you can—but then, of course, it's so far.


MIRALDA

It is, isn't it?


JOHN

Still, I think you should go if you could. If only I could offer to help you in any way, I would gladly, but of course...


MIRALDA

What would you do?


JOHN

I'd go and find that Hussein fellow; and then...


MIRALDA

Yes?


JOHN

Why, I'd tell him a bit about the law, and make him see that you didn't keep all that money that belonged to someone else.


MIRALDA

Would you really?


JOHN

Nothing would please me better.


MIRALDA

Would you really? Would you go all that way?


JOHN

It's just the sort of thing that I should like, apart from the crying shame. The man ought to be...


MIRALDA

We're getting into Holborn. Would you come and lunch somewhere with me and talk it over?


JOHN

Gladly. I'd be glad to help. I've got to see a man on business first. I've come up to see him. And then after that, after that there was something I wanted to do after that. I can't think what it was. But something I wanted to do after that. O, heavens, what was it?

[Pause.]


MIRALDA

Can't you think?


JOHN

No. O, well, it can't have been so very important. And yet... Well, where shall we lunch?


MIRALDA

Gratzenheim's.


JOHN

Right. What time?


MIRALDA

One-thirty. Would that suit?


JOHN

Perfectly. I'd like to get a man like Hussein in prison. I'd like... O, I beg your pardon.

[He hurries to open the door. Exit MIRALDA.]

Now what was it I wanted to do afterwards?

[Throws hand to forehead.] O, never mind.

Curtain





ACT II SCENE

JOHN's tent in Al Shaldomir. There are two heaps of idols, left and right, lying upon the ground inside the tent. DAOUD carries another idol in his arms. JOHN looks at its face.

Six months have elapsed since the scene in the second-class railway carriage.


JOHN BEAL

This god is holy.

[He points to the left heap. DAOUD carries it there and lays it on the heap.]


DAOUD

Yes, great master.


JOHN BEAL

You are in no wise to call me great master. Have not I said so? I am not your master. I am helping you people. I know better than you what you ought to do, because I am English. But that's all. I'm not your master, See?


DAOUD

Yes, great master.


JOHN BEAL

O, go and get some more idols. Hurry.


DAOUD

Great master, I go. [Exit.]


JOHN BEAL

I can't make these people out.

DAOUD [returning]

I have three gods.

JOHN BEAL [looking at their faces, pointing to the two smaller idols first] These two are holy. This one is unholy.


DAOUD

Yes, great master.


JOHN BEAL

Put them on the heap.

[DAOUD does so, two left, one right.]

Get some more.

[DAOUD salaams. Exit.]

[Looking at right heap.] What a—what a filthy people

[Enter DAOUD with two idols.]

JOHN

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